Sam Adams founder edges onto billionaire list

These are good times for craft beers — and not just for people who like to drink them, but for those who make them. As an example, look to the brewer of Sam Adams. Boston Beer Co.’s soaring stock price has made its founder, Jim Koch, into a billionaire, Bloomberg News reports.

The stock has risen sharply since July, when Boston Beer reported net revenue of $181.3 million for the second quarter of 2013. Those gains have sent Koch’s net worth above $1 billion, according to Bloomberg.

“Having watched my stock price go up and down and up, it seems almost whimsical,” Koch tells Bloomberg. “I remind people getting rich is life’s great booby prize. Any normal person would much rather be happy than rich.”

Just before noon ET Monday, the company’s stock price (symbol: SAM) was around $227 a share — a record high. As recently as 2009, a share could be had for about $20.

Sam still makes some very good beers… and in their endeavors to try new stuff… some bloody awful ones as well… So, I’ll say I feel that they are still a craft brewer… I’ll also say I remember, not that long ago, when they were also a micro brewer… a status that have now given up……

I got tired of his shtick a long time ago (still like the man though). His beers were always “OK” as I’ve never had one that knocked me off my feet (literally or figuratively). For less dough and beers that rate right up there with his, I’ll take Saranac any day (if I’m not parked at Brown’s or the Pump Station).

Thankfully, in April 2007, Lake Placid Craft Brewing Company had entered into a supply and distribution agreement with Matt Brewing Company of Utica, N.Y., brewers of the Saranac line of beers. This partnership has allowed the Craft Brewing Company to continue to grow and expand distribution into regional areas as well as extend its availability into new states. With the closure of the Plattsburgh brewery, all beer produced for The Lake Placid Craft Brewing Company is brewed and packaged at Matt Brewing. Brewing operations at the original brewpub in Lake Placid continue at nearly full capacity.

Um, let’s reflect. No one has a problem with the producer of beer as a BILLIONAIRE. Sorry about the shouting, but had to make a point. Everyone who serves it makes $2.35 an hour with no benefits, but the “drumbeat” is to take away their tips.

I’m curious what effect his earnings has on the wages of bartenders, or even how they’re remotely connected in any way. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all about raising the minimum wage, but this makes it sound as though you prefer a maximum wage instead.

I am often baffled that anyone would defend this gross system of horrors where so few can own and control so much resources. When are we going to put our feet down, collectively and spiritually. In a time where fast food workers are denied the dignity that a $20 per hour wage would guarantee them, we are offering hero worship to someone who grew his wealth on usustainability and greed. Especially while the people who SERVE the product often make less than minimum wage as was pointed out here in this comment section! I can’t believe our nation tolerates this kind of abuse and confiscation of so much of our wealth, thereby depriving so many others the chance to benefit. For every billionaire who sells alcohol, there are millions of under-served minorities and working families who could use that money to live day to day.

Whatever ditzy opinions you may have about “leftist drivel”, you have no right or power to force the people espousing it to leave the country. Even to express that opinion is at least borderline idiotic, and probably well over the border.

Having said that, I now reverse myself and say to you: if you don’t like people saying what they want, YOU go to Belarus or North Korea or some such place where you can see people strung up for saying what they think.

And to switch directions again, I’ll add that nothing in this posting is meant to suggest that I accept the equal-quality drivel Freida has been spouting. I won’t try to throw her out of the country, though.